Sudan

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any evidence that oil revenues are being used by the Government of Sudan for the purchase of arms.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no such evidence.
	We have pressed for revenues to be used for development projects and for transparency in the oil account. The Government of Sudan have made public assurances that this will happen. We shall look to them to honour those assurances and shall remain focused on this issue as evidence becomes available.

Austria and the EU

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8th March (WA 137-38), whether any law or laws have been broken by Austria which would justify the imposition of sanctions by the other 14 member states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are not aware that Austria has breached any European Community law or any of its international commitments. However, the measures introduced by the 14 member states of the EU were intended to send a signal of concern over the inclusion of a far-Right party in the new Austrian Government. Along with our EU partners we are committed to act against xenophobia and discrimination and have the obligation to express concern where we see the danger of this arising.

Asylum Seekers: Voucher Scheme

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When an asylum seeker supported under the voucher scheme tenders a voucher whose face value exceeds that of the goods he is purchasing, whether the change will be returned to the asylum seeker; and, if not, by what legal authority it will be detained.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: As a matter of policy the Government have determined that change should not be given where the face value of a voucher exceeds that of goods purchased. It is therefore a condition of the legal agreements between retailers and Sodexho Pass, the contractor running the voucher scheme, that the retailer shall not give change. This condition is also specified in the contract between Sodexho Pass and the Home Office and the collateral agreements between national retailers and the Home Office. The condition is enforeable in law.

IT Regulation

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the assessment of the Better Regulation Task Force that the 60 initiatives on information technology regulation currently being conducted by government could result in 4,000 pieces of legislation.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There is no such assessment by the Better Regulation Taskforce.

Lords Ministers: Special Advisers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any special advisers are currently employed by Government Ministers in the House of Lords; if so, how many; and by which Ministers.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women has appointed two special advisers and the Lord Chancellor and the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords have each appointed one.

Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary and Chief of Staff

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What mechanisms exist, if any, for Parliament to hold to account and scrutinise the executive functions and actions of the Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary and Chief of Staff.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As with all civil servants, special advisers are accountable to Ministers. Ministers are accountable to Parliament.

Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary and Chief of Staff

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent the Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary has responsibility for the Strategic Communications Unit.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary is responsible for the Strategic Communications Unit.

Strategic Communications Unit

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of their assessment of recent press coverage of health and other issues, they are satisfied with the performance of the Strategic Communications Unit; whether they consider that the Unit's projected cost of £839,440 for the current year represents value for money; and whether they intend to review its activities.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are fully satisfied with the performance of the Strategic Communications Unit. No review is planned.

"Envoy" and "Czar": Definitions

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of the role and responsibilities of an "envoy" in the civil service; and
	What is their definition of the word "Czar" when used in official announcements.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The expression "envoy" and "Czar" are used to reflect the status and level of responsibility of certain individuals.

"Czars": Terms and Conditions of Appointment

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether those appointed "Czars" become civil servants by virtue of the appointment.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. Individuals are governed by the terms and conditions of their appointment.

Millennium Dome Site Development

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which companies or groups are on the shortlist of bidders who have expressed an interest in developing the site of the Millennium Dome.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The proposals and shortlist of bidders who have expressed an interest in developing the site of the Millennium Dome are:
	Dome Europe, a high technology leisure, business and retail destination, proposed by the principal finance group of Nomura International plc.
	Greenwich Media World, a high profile mixed use leisure and business destination focused on media and communications, proposed by a consortium comprising Pell Frischmann, London Merchant Securities, Sir Robert McAlpine, WestLB Panmure Ltd and the Tussauds Group.
	International Merchandise and Cultural Centre, a global one-stop shop for exchanging goods, services and tourism promotions, proposed by a consortium comprising Country Heights Holdings Berhad, Sunrise Berhad and Maccon Investment Holdings (Proprietary) Ltd.
	Legacy plc, a high technology industrial campus of workspace leisure and retail uses, proposed by Robert Bourne.
	Sports Dome 2001, an advanced multiple sports facility, proposed by a consortium comprising John Taylor International Ltd, Chelsfield Plc, Collard Grosvenor and Price Nicholson.
	Monex Leisure Ltd and MEPC plc who proposed City of the Future, a theme park centred on the use of technology, were shortlisted but have since withdrawn from the competition for business reasons.

Merrywood School, Bristol

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received from elected representatives regarding the proposed closure of Merrywood school, Bristol; when these were made; and by whom.

Baroness Blackstone: The Member of Parliament for Bristol South, Dawn Primarolo, led a delegation opposed to the closure proposals to discuss the case with the Secretary of State and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for School Standards in November 1999 and has further discussed the case with Ministers at other times. Adrian Becker, the Chair of Bristol City Council Education Committee, wrote to the Secretary of State supporting the closure and the development of an education park in Knowle in January this year.

Edinburgh University: Grant of Patent to Alter Cells

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they were consulted before the European Patent Office issued a patent on altering cells and human embryos to researchers at Edinburgh University; whether the European Patent Office has made it clear to the patent holders that the patent may not be used in the context of human beings; and whether, in the light of the admission by the European Patent Office that a mistake was made in issuing the patent, the Government have registered a formal protest and asked for the patent to be withdrawn.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The granting of patents by the European Patent Office (EPO) is carried out under the direction of its president who is responsible for its activities and is accountable to the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation. Member states of the organisation, including the United Kingdom, are not consulted before the office decides to grant patents. The EPO has issued a press statement which makes clear that a mistake was made in issuing patent No. EP0695351 and that the scope of protection of this patent does not extend to human cloning. The office regrets that the error has occurred and states that it will take every care to prevent such errors recurring in the future. The president reported his office's error to the administrative council, on which the United Kingdom is represented. The council expressed its strong concern that the error had occurred and requested the office to ensure that measures would be taken to avoid repetition of such errors. We understand that the patent has been challenged by Greenpeace Deutschland, which initiated opposition proceedings on 24 February.

Blood Products: Pooling

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What blood functions or derivatives made from United Kingdom donated human blood and "pooled" so that a given sample may contain elements from many different donors are in current use in the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: All blood products manufactured by the National Health Service plasma fractionation centres are sourced from pooled non-UK plasma. However, fresh frozen plasma (FFP), a blood component for transfusion, is sourced from UK donated blood in the same way as red cells and platelets. Like red cells, FFP is not pooled before use, although samples from up to 10 donor units of FFP are pooled to enable nucleic acid amplification testing for the earlier detection of hepatitis C infection.

Irish Sea: Temporary Prohibition of Fishing

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What financial and other steps are being taken to assist all those fishermen in the northern Irish Sea whose livelihoods are being affected by the European Community's decision to prohibit most methods of fishing in much of that area between 14 February and May 2000.

Baroness Hayman: The closure of the Irish Sea during the cod spawning season is designed to promote the recovery of the stock which is currently in a very poor state. Shrimp fishing is not affected by the closure. Fishing for nephrops may also continue in designated parts of the closed area.
	Compensation will not be paid to fishermen whose activities are curtailed as a result of the closed area. The Government do not believe that it is appropriate to compensate fishermen for a decline in stocks or for conservation measures designed to improve stocks and hence fishing opportunities in the future.
	Fishermen unable to work in the nephrops and shrimp fisheries or in other fisheries outside the closed area may well be entitled to claim job seekers allowance and other benefits.

Cows: Slaughter Scheme Weight Limit

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will remove the maximum weight limit on payments for cows slaughtered over three years old.

Baroness Hayman: The over month scheme provides a voluntary outlet for cattle which are excluded from the food chain by virtue of their age and for which there is thus no market. The weight limit and other payment terms are set by the European Commission; it is not within the Government's gift to amend them unilaterally. The Government consider that payments under the scheme are fair to taxpayers and producers and have no plans to seek the agreement of the Commission to any change in payment terms.

Forestry: Investment Yield

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they define "a good return on their investment in public forests" (H.L. Deb, 14 March col. 1530); and whether they consider that the investment yield should be capable of significant variation from year to year, in accordance with market conditions and to protect the interests of private timber producers.

Baroness Hayman: We expect the forests managed by the Forestry Commission to provide a rate of return of 6 per cent overall. This is an economic measure which includes not only the operating surplus from commercial activities but also the many non-market benefits provided by the forests. These include public recreation, increasing biodiversity and other environmental benefits. The value of these non-market benefits is such that, to date, we have not needed to vary the target rate of return. On the other hand, the expected annual cash surplus is revised regularly to take account of changing circumstances.

MAFF Restructuring

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes they expect to make to the structure and location of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's offices in the light of the recent review of the common agricultural policy administration in England, and[HL
	What account they will take in any reorganisation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's local structure of the proximity of offices to the farmers they serve.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Hayman: The recent review of CAP scheme administration was commissioned to help us to identify the best way to improve the service we offer to farmers and traders eligible to claim CAP payments, taking full advantage of the benefits offered by modern technology.
	We are now considering, in the context of the Spending Review 2000, how best to restructure MAFF's regional service centres and the Intervention Board Executive Agency. No decisions have yet been taken on future locations for CAP scheme processing. Any major restructuring will only be possible if funding can be made available.
	My right honourable friend the Minister has made it clear that he will not implement the recommendations of the review unless he is satisfied that we will be able to deliver real improvements in the service which MAFF and the Intervention Board currently provide to farmers and traders, as well as reductions in the cost to the taxpayer of administration of CAP payments.
	We are also taking forward plans to align MAFF's other regional activities, particularly on rural development, with the Government Offices for the Regions. This will ensure that we are able to work effectively with other regional partners, including the regional development agencies.